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Where’s Stu?
Monday, May 8, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
It also appears that just one of those 13 hits is actually a campaign story about Stu Umholtz, and it was covered only by his near-hometown newspaper, the Peoria Journal-Star. The Republican candidate for Illinois attorney general held a news conference the day after the General Assembly went home for summer, urging the body to amend the Open Meetings Act. That’s a good idea, but it’s more than just a little goofy that he held the press conference on a Friday and on the day after the General Assembly adjourned for the summer. So far, Umholtz has been a stealth candidate. I’m told he’s been traveling to tiny little meetings in tiny little counties and is generally clueless about how to run a campaign. We’ll see how it progresses, but the guy really needs to kick it into gear. Also, I didn’t realize until I did my Google search that Umholtz was the reason why Congressman Ray LaHood turned so heavily against former US Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. As background, this selection process was much different than under [Peter] Fitzgerald, who basically told House Republicans, including Speaker Dennis Hastert, that he would be selecting the attorneys and they wouldn’t be anyone’s pals.
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I did a Google News search of “Umholtz” last night and got just 13 hits since April 17th. Two of those results aren’t even for Republican attorney general candidate 
- Beowulf - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 6:31 am:
Ray LaHood wins the “Stupid Political Mistakes Award”. I would hate to be identified in the Illinois political history books as one of the Illinois politicians that worked against Peter Fitzgerald at this point in time. Who in the GOP would like to be remembered for making disparaging remarks about Ronald Regan while he was still in office? LaHood needs to take a short course in “Political Suicide 101″.
I wonder if Ray LaHood is now going to sing the praises of George Ryan for his encore? I am a Republican and I see Lisa easily getting reelected. Joe Birkett should have been the GOP candidate who will be running against her in November. Another “poor” decision by our Illinois Republican leader, Andy McKenna. Way to go, Andy!
- bored now - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 6:40 am:
the really funny thing is that lisa madigan’s campaign is trying to convince people that umholtz will be a “well-funded opponent!” give me a break…
- yougotta-be kidding me - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 8:37 am:
LaHood is getting good at backing the wrong horse…in the Illinois 17th race, he backed 2004 loser Zinga (who lost by 22%) over a Rock Island County businessman (the resume it will take to win the 17th as a Republican) without even meeting the RICO businessman! We figured there had to be something else going on, now we just learn that LaHood has a history of dumb choices (that, unfortunately hurt the party).
- OneMan - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 8:56 am:
He was in the Batavia Loyalty Day parade on Sunday.
- Team Sleep - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 12:49 pm:
Bored Now, of course Lisa’s people want to spin this race. The more money Lisa has the more money she give to the constitutional officer candidates and Tier 1 Dems. Plus, don’t you think MJM has a hand in her campaign?
- googly goo goo! - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 1:31 pm:
A search of Google News came back
“Your search - “Stu Umholtz” - did not match any documents.”
That is a real accomplishment!
- Tazewell Tipster - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 3:41 pm:
LaHood is a great guy
Let’s face it sports fans Sen. Fitzgerald was never going to run a reelection campaign because he bank stock was weak and did not have his $20 million to run and win. Hence the old bow out.
At the time of the reelect he had done nothing.
Most believe Umholtz is running for judge.
- Ron - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 3:55 pm:
Don’t forget, Jack Ryan was already challenging Fitzgerald for the nomination and had already signed on his high priced consultants. That, the price of keeping his seat (self funded), and the uncertainty of the outcome were the reasons Fitzgerald was not going to run for re-election.
- the Other Anonymous - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 4:06 pm:
Hey Stu,
If you want to be the state’s Attorney General, maybe you should take some time and read the state’s constitution:
“(c) Sessions of each house of the General Assembly and
meetings of committees, joint committees and legislative
commissions shall be open to the public.”
Sheeesh.
- Richard Saunders - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 4:12 pm:
The General Assembly is the largest and arguably the most important public body in the State and has adopted a policy that the People’s business ought to be conducted in public session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. Every public body is mandated to comply with the Open Meetings Act except the General Assembly.
The proposal to require the General Assembly to comply with the Open Meetings Act makes sense.
Making the proposal after the close of the session also makes sense in that it allows a great opportunity for public debate before the next session begins. What a novel concept.
- bored now - Monday, May 8, 06 @ 8:13 pm:
team sleep, i don’t doubt that the madigans want to spin this in their favor. i’d just expect something credible, don’t you?
- Crank-tankerous - Tuesday, May 9, 06 @ 11:51 am:
Hey, Googly Goo Goo, go Google again. He’s “Stewart”, not “Stuart”. 18,000+ hits.
To carry back my post from the Mehlman thread — the problem with Umholtz’s campaign isn’t him — it’s the Republican Party that has shamelessly cast Umholtz (and Rutherford, and Pankau, and Radogno) adrift with seemingly no money and no support.